Container

ABSTRACT

A first container for flowable substances having a first opening provided with a plug. The plug configured to be brought from its closed state to its open state after a fluid tight seal has been formed between the first opening and a second opening of a second container. The plug remains attached to the first container and remains intact when the plug is opened. The invention also provides a system comprising two or more first containers of the invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to containers for flowable substances.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is often desirable to keep components of a mixture separate from oneanother until the mixture is needed. For example, a baby formula mayconsist of a mixture formed from a powder and water. The two componentsof the mixture (the powder and the water) may be packaged separately,and mixed by the consumer just before the formula is to be used. The twocomponents may be packaged in a single container and separated from oneanother in the container by a tearable or displaceable boundary. Justbefore the formula is to be used, the boundary is torn or displaced soas to allow the components to be mixed in the container.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,107 to Baudin discloses a packaging system for twosubstances that are initially separated but eventually mixed together.The system consists of two bottles. The first bottle has a centralhollow recess supporting a stopper. The recess can be screwed in leaktight fashion onto a second bottle. When the second bottle is screwedinto the first bottle, the stopper is expelled into the first bottle sothat the contents of the two bottles can be mixed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a first container for a flowablesubstance such as a liquid gas or solid powder. The first container ofthe invention is referred to herein as a “bottle”. The bottle isprovided with a first opening that is occluded by a plug. The plug canbe brought from a closed state in which it occludes the opening to anopen state in which it does not occlude the opening in order tointroduce or remove a flowable substance into or out of the bottle. Inaccordance with the invention, the plug remains intact and attached tothe first bottle when brought from is closed state to its open state.The opening is configured to allow a second opening of a second bottleto be applied to the first opening of the first bottle in a fluid tightseal. In a preferred embodiment, the first opening is located at the endof a recess in the wall of the first bottle. The exposed surface of therecess is provided with screw threads configured to engage complementaryscrew threads on the outer surface of the spout of a second bottle sothat the spout of the second bottle can be screwed into the recess. Asthe spout of the second bottle is screwed into the recess, the plug isbrought from its closed state to its open state so as to allow mixing ofthe contents of the two bottles.

The invention also provides a system comprising two or more firstbottles of the invention.

The invention may be used when it is desired to offer a variety ofsubstances and to allow an individual to select two or more substancesfrom the offered substances to be mixed together. For example, a varietyof beverages may be offered, with each different beverage in a separatecontainer of the invention. An individual may then devise his ownconcoction by selecting two or more containers of the invention, witheach container containing one of the offered beverages and mixing thecontents of the selected containers.

The invention thus provides a first container for flowable substances,the container having a wall and having a first opening provided with aplug, the plug having a closed state in which the plug occludes theopening and an opened state in which the plug does not occlude theopening, the plug configured to be brought from its closed state to itsopen state after a fluid tight seal has been formed between the firstopening and a second opening of a second container, the plug remainingattached to the first container and remaining intact when the plug isbrought from its closed state to its open state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carriedout in practice, a preferred embodiment will now be described, by way ofnon-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 shows a bottle in accordance with one embodiment of the inventionwith its capped removed;

FIG. 2 shows the bottle of FIG. 1 closed with a cap;

FIG. 3 shows the bottle of FIG. 1 after attachment of a second bottle;

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the plug of the bottle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows the recess of the bottle of FIG. 1 with the plug in itsclosed state;

FIG. 6 shows the plug in its open state in a top view (a) and a bottomview (b)

FIG. 7 shows the plug in its closed state in a top view (a) and a bottomview (b)

FIG. 8 shows the recess of the bottle of FIG. 1 with the plug in itsopen state after attachment of the second bottle;

FIG. 9 a shows opening of the plug as the second bottle is attached tothe bottle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 b shows the spout of the second bottle;

FIG. 10 shows a bottle in accordance with a second embodiment of theinvention with its capped removed;

FIG. 11 shows the bottle of FIG. 10 closed with a cap;

FIG. 12 shows the bottle of FIG. 10 after attachment of a second bottle;

FIG. 13 shows the plug in its open state after attachment of the secondbottle to the bottle of FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 shows a bottle in accordance with a third embodiment of theinvention with its capped removed;

FIG. 15; shows the bottle of FIG. 14 after attachment of a secondbottle; and

FIG. 16 shows opening of the plug as the second bottle is attached tothe bottle of FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a bottle 1 in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention. The bottle 1 may be formed from any material used in themanufacture of bottles such as glass, plastic or metal. The bottle 1encloses an interior 4 that is used to contain a flowable substance 8such as a liquid, gas or solid powder. The bottle 1 has a spout 2 thatterminates in an opening 3 that may be used to introduce or remove aflowable substance into or out of the bottle. The outer surface of thespout 2 is provided with screw threads 5 that engage complementary screwthreads 6 on an interior surface of a screw-on cap 7 so as to reversiblyclose the opening 3. The bottle 1 is shown in FIG. 1 in its open statewith the cap 7 removed. FIG. 2 shows the bottle 1 with the cap 7 screwedon the spout 2 so as to close the opening 3 and prevent passage ofsubstances through the opening 3. As further shown in FIG. 2, the cap 7may be provided with a seal 9 that prevents inadvertent loosening of thecap. After the cap 7 has been sealed on the spout 2, as shown in FIG. 2,the seal is broken when a user unscrews the cap from the bottle. Bottlecaps having this type of seal are well known in the art.

The bottle 1 is provided with a recess 11. The recess 11 terminates inan opening 17 that is occluded by a plug 18. The plug 18 is openable, asexplained below, in order to introduce or remove a flowable substanceinto or out of the bottle 1 through the opening 17. The plug 18 is shownin its closed state in FIGS. 1 and 2, and in its open state in FIG. 3.The exposed surface 13 of the recess 11 is provided with screw threads16. The recess 11 is dimensioned to allow a spout 12 of a bottle 1′ tobe screwed into the recess 11, as shown in FIG. 3. The bottle 1′ may beidentical to the shape and dimensions of the bottle 1, or the bottle 1′may be different in its shape or dimensions from the bottle 1. Thebottle 1′ is provided with a screw or cap 14 that has been removed fromthe spout 12 of the bottle 1′ in FIG. 2. The outer surface of the spout12 is provided with screw threads 15 that engage complementary screwthreads 36 interior surface of the cap 14 when the cap 14 is screwedonto the spout 12. The threads 15 engage the threads 16 on the exposedsurface 13 of the recess 11 when the spout 12 is screwed into the recess11, as shown in FIG. 3.

The bottle 1′ contains a flowable substance 8′. As explained below, whenthe spout 12 of the bottle 1′ is screwed into the recess 11 of thebottle 1, the plug 18 can be opened so as to allow mixing of thecontents 8 of the bottle 1 and the contents 8′ of the bottle 1′.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the plug 18. The plug 18 consists of afirst diaphragm 19 and a second diaphragm 20. The first diaphragm 19 isprovided with sector-shaped holes 21. The second diaphragm is providedwith sector-shaped holes 22.

FIG. 5 shows the recess 11 of the bottle 1 in greater detail. The firstdiaphragm 19 and the second diaphragm 20 are maintained in the recess 11between a first circular ridge 24 and a second circular ridge 25, thatextend from the exposed surface 13 of the recess 11. The upper diaphragm19 is immobilized in the recess 13 by means of teeth 26 that extendradially from the circumference of the upper diaphragm 19 and engageteeth extending radially, inward from the exposed surface 13 of therecess 11. The lower diaphragm 20 is rotatable in the annular groovebetween the upper and lower ridges 24 and 25. The upper and lowerdiaphragms 19 and 20 are formed from a rigid material such as hardrubber that forms a seal with the exposed surface 13 of the recess 11,even as the lower diaphragm 20 is rotated in the annular groove betweenthe upper and lower circular ridges 24 and 25. This prevents passage offlowable substances, such as the flowable substances 8 or 8′ between thecircumference of the diaphragms 19 and 20 and the exposed surface 13 ofthe recess 11.

The plug 18 is shown in a top view in FIGS. 6 a and 7 a and in a bottomview in FIGS. 6 b and 7 b. When the lower diaphragm 25 has been rotatedin the annular groove so that the openings 22 on the lower diaphragm 25are in register with the openings 21 in the upper diaphragm 19 as shownin FIGS. 6 and 8, the plug 18 is in its open state and flowablesubstances such as the substance 8 or 8′ may flow from one side of theplug 18 through the openings 21 and 22 to the other side of the plug 18.As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, when the lower diaphragm 20 is rotated 90°from the position shown in FIG. 6, the openings 21 and 22 are occluded,so that the plug 18 is in its closed state and flowable substances areprevented from flowing from one side of the plug 18 to the other side.

FIG. 9 a shows the recess 11 of bottle 1 after the spout 12 of thebottle 1′ has been inserted partially into the recess 11. The plug 18 isin its closed state. The spout 12 was introduced into the recess 11 androtated so that the screw threads 15 on the spout 12 engage the screwthreads 16 on the exposed surface 13 of the recess 11. As shown in FIG.9 b, the rim 30 surrounding the opening of the bottle 1′ is providedwith two engaging notches 27 each of which is shaped and dimensioned toreceive a driving pin 28 extending from the lower diaphragm 20 (FIGS. 4,6, and 7). The notches 27 may occupy the entire thickness of the rim 30,as shown in FIG. 9 b, or may only occupy part of the thickness of the ofthe rim 30. As the bottle 1′ is screwed into the recess 11 in thedirection of the arrow in FIG. 9 b, the spout 12 of the bottle 1′advances towards the plug 18, and the driving pins 28 enter the engagingnotches 27. As the bottle 1 continues to be rotated, the driving pinscause the lower diaphragm 20 to rotate in the annular groove so as tobring the plug 18 from its closed state shown in FIG. 6 to its openstate shown in FIG. 7. Opening of the plug 18 thus occurs withouttearing the plug and without releasing part of the plug into theinterior of either bottle. When the plug 18 is in its open state, theflowable substances 8 and 8′ can be mixed.

FIG. 10 shows a bottle 31 in accordance with another embodiment of theinvention. The bottle 31 may be formed from any material used in themanufacture of bottles such as glass, plastic or metal. The bottle 31encloses an interior 34 that is used to contain a flowable substance 38such as a liquid, gas or solid powder. The bottle 31 has a spout 32 thatterminates in an opening 33 that may be used to introduce or remove aflowable substance into or out of the bottle. The outer surface of thespout 32 is provided with screw threads 35 that engage complementaryscrew threads 36 on an interior surface of a screw-on cap 37 so as toreversibly close the opening 33. The bottle 31 is shown in FIG. 10 inits open state with the cap 37 removed. FIG. 11 shows the bottle 31 withthe cap 37 screwed on the spout 32 so as to close the opening 33 andprevent passage of substances through the opening 33. As further shownin FIG. 31, the cap 37 may be provided with a seal 39 that preventsinadvertent loosening of the cap. After the cap 37 has been sealed onthe spout 32, as shown in FIG. 31, the seal is broken when a userunscrews the cap from the bottle. Bottle caps having this type of sealare well known in the art.

The bottle 31 is provided with a recess 41. The recess 41 terminates inan opening 47 that is occluded by a plug 48. The plug 48 is openable, asexplained below, in order to introduce or remove a flowable substanceinto or out of the bottle 31 through the opening 47. The plug 48 isshown in its closed state in FIGS. 10 and 11, and in its open state inFIG. 13. The exposed surface 43 of the recess 41 is provided with screwthreads 46. The recess 41 is dimensioned to allow a spout 42 of a bottle31′ to be screwed into the recess 41, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. Thebottle 31′ may be identical to the shape and dimensions of the bottle31, or the bottle 31′ may be different in its shape or dimension fromthe bottle 31. The bottle 31′ is provided with a screw or cap 44 thathas been removed from the spout 42 of the bottle 31′ in FIG. 12. Theouter surface of the spout 42 is provided with screw threads 45 thatengage complementary screw threads 47 in the interior surface of the cap44 when the cap 44 is screwed onto the spout 42. The threads 45 engagethe threads 46 on the exposed surface 43 of the recess 41 when the spout42 is screwed into the recess 41, as shown in FIG. 11.

The bottle 31′ contains a flowable substance 38′. As explained below,when the spout 42 of the bottle 31′ is screwed into the recess 41 of thebottle 31, the plug 48 can be opened so as to allow mixing of thecontents 38 of the bottle 31 and the contents 8′ of the bottle 31′.

The plug 48 has a circular diaphragm 50 that occludes the opening 47.From the circumference of the diaphragm 50 extend two or moreprojections 52. Each projection 52 has a foot 54 that is received in acomplementary notch 56 on the exposed surface 43 of the recess 42. Theplug 48 is formed from an elastic material such as plastic. In theclosed configuration shown in FIGS. 1 o and 11, the projections 52 aresomewhat strained from a resting configuration (not shown) that the plug48 assumes when the projections 52 are not constrained in any way. Inthis way, the feet 54 exert a radially outward force into the notches56, so that the plug 48 is fixed in its closed state in the opening 47.

FIG. 12 shows the recess 41 of the bottle 31 after the spout 42 of thebottle 31′ has been partially inserted into the recess 41. The rim 58 ofthe spout 42 of the bottle 31′ exerts a force upon the projections 52that is coaxial with the spout 42 and is directed toward the bottle 31.This causes the feet 54 to be dislodged from the notches 56 and the plug48 to be dislodged from the closed configuration shown in FIGS. 10 and11 to its open state shown in FIG. 13. As the bottle 31′ continues to bescrewed in the recess 41, the feet 54 eventually become lodged innotches 60. At this point, the bottle 31′ cannot be screwed any furtherinto the recess 41, so that the feet 54 do not dislodge from the notches58, and is thus prevented from being released into the flowablesubstance 38. Opening of the plug 48 thus occurs without tearing theplug and without releasing part of the plug into the interior of eitherbottle.

FIG. 14 shows a bottle 100 in accordance with another embodiment of theinvention. The bottle 100 may be formed from any material used in themanufacture of bottles such as glass, plastic or metal. The bottle 100encloses an interior 104 that is used to contain a flowable substance108 such as a liquid, gas or solid powder. The bottle 100 has a spout102 that terminates in an opening 103 that may be used to introduce orremove a flowable substance into or out of the bottle 100. The outersurface of the spout 102 is provided with screw threads 105 that engagecomplementary screw threads 106 on an interior surface of a screw-on cap107 so as to reversibly close the opening as explained above for theprevious embodiments.

The bottle 100 is provided with a recess 111. The recess 111 terminatesin an opening 117 that is occluded by a plug 118. The plug 118 isopenable, as explained below, in order to introduce or remove a flowablesubstance into or out of the bottle 100 through the opening 117. Theplug 118 is shown in its closed state in FIGS. 14 and 15, and in itsopen state in FIG. 16. The exposed surface 113 of the recess 111 isprovided with screw threads 116. The recess 111 is dimensioned to allowa spout 112 of a bottle 100′ to be screwed into the recess 11, as shownin FIGS. 15 and 16. The bottle 100′ may be identical to the shape anddimensions of the bottle 100 or the bottle 100′ may be different in itsshape or dimension from the bottle 100. The bottle 100′ is provided witha screw cap (not shown). The outer surface of the spout 112 is providedwith screw threads 115 that engage complementary screw threads on theinterior surface of the cap when the cap is screwed onto the spout 112.The threads 115 engage the threads 116 on the exposed surface 113 of therecess 111 when the spout 112 is screwed into the recess 111, as shownin FIGS. 15 and 16.

The bottle 100′ contains a flowable substance 108′. As explained below,when the spout 112 of the bottle 100′ is screwed into the recess 111 ofthe bottle 100, the plug 118 can be opened so as to allow mixing of thecontents 108 of the bottle 100 and the contents 108′ of the bottle 100′.

The plug 118 is attached to the wall of the recess 111 by a hinge 120.In the closed state of the plug 118 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the plug 118is snapped closed onto the rim 122 of the recess 111 by means of a firstengaging rim 124 associated with the plug 118 and a record engaging rim126 associated with the rim 122.

As the bottle 100′ continues to be screwed in the recess 111, rim 128 ofthe spout 112 of the bottle 100′ applies a force upon a projection 130extending from the plug 118 into the spout recess 111 of the bottle 100.This causes the engaging rim 124 and 126 to disengage so as to move theplug 118 from its closed position. Opening of the plug 118 thus occurswithout tearing the plug and without releasing part of the plug into theinterior of either bottle. The plug 118 may then be opened further byinverting the bottles 100 and 100′ so as to allow flowable material toflow from the interior of the bottle 100′ into the bottle 100.

1. A first container for flowable substances, the container having awall and having a first opening provided with a plug, the plug having aclosed state in which the plug occludes the opening and an opened statein which the plug does not occlude the opening, the plug configured tobe brought from its closed state to its open state after a fluid tightseal has been formed between the first opening and a second opening of asecond container, the plug remaining attached to the first container andremaining intact when the plug is brought from its closed state to itsopen state.
 2. The first container according to claim 1 wherein theopening is located in a recess in the wall of the first container. 3.The first container according to claim 2 wherein the wall of the recessis provided with screw threads configured to engage screw threads on aspout of the second container.
 4. The first container according to claim3 wherein a fluid tight seal is formed when the spout of the secondcontainer is screwed into the recess.
 5. The first container accordingto claim 3 wherein the plug is brought from it closed state to its openstate as the second bottle is screed into the recess.
 6. The firstcontainer according to claim 5 wherein the plug comprises a firstdiaphragm and a second diaphragm, the first diaphragm having one or morefirst holes, the second diaphragm havening one or more second holes, thesecond diaphragm being rotatable, as the second container is screwedinto the recess, from a first position in which the first holes are notin register with the second holes and the plug is in its closed state toa second position in which the first holes and the second holes are inregister and the plug is in its open state.
 7. The first containeraccording to claim 6 wherein the spout of the second bottle is providedwith one or more engaging notches configured to receive a driving pinassociated with the second diaphragm, each driving pin engaging anengaging hole and rotating the second diaphragm from its first positionto its second position as the second container is screwed in the recess.8. The first container according to claim 5 wherein the plug is hingedto the wall of the first container.
 9. The first container according toclaim 5 wherein the plug comprises a diaphragm from which one or moreextensions extend in the recess, each extension terminating in a foot,each foot configured to fit in a first notch when the plug is in itsclosed state and to fit in a second notch when the plug is in its openstate.
 10. A system comprising two or more first containers according toany one of the previous claims.